Laurence Stephen Lowry - An Open Space [1968]

Lowry (Manchester, 1887 - Glossop, 1976) constantly sought out the city spaces, bounded by industrial buildings, in which the humorous encounters of human interaction took place. Though little ‘open space’ is visible in between the highly individuated figures in this elongated scene, Lowry creates a tangible sense of depth in his handling of the vast crowd. Without losing any potency of tone or detail, the figures seamlessly diminish from fore to mid-ground. It is only upon the horizon, in close proximity to the distant buildings, that the figures become shrouded in the flake white mist, deprived of their force and becoming ephemeral. Besides the factory in the centre and the peripheral houses on the left and right, the industrial setting has faded into insubstantial shadow.